Online Reporter
Nothando Zondo [email protected]
A community football and netball tournament held in Mbilamboyi on Saturday drew a large crowd as organisers used sport to deliver a strong message against drug and substance abuse, while also serving as a build-up to the annual Vice-President Mohadi Tournament set for later this year in Matabeleland South.
The tournament was staged at Mbilamboyi Playing Grounds in Ward 6 and parts of Ward 12, and was held in the name of Vice-President Colonel (Rtd) Dr Kembo Mohadi.
It brought together youths from surrounding villages for a day that combined competition, entertainment and community dialogue on issues affecting young people.
From early morning, teams began arriving with supporters, elders and community leaders filling the grounds, turning what started as a local sporting fixture three years ago into one of the biggest youth gatherings in the area this year.
The atmosphere was lively, with music, cheering and speeches that kept spectators engaged between matches.
Addressing the crowd, Zanu-PF Provincial Political Commissar Washington Nkomo warned young people against drug and substance abuse and described the scourge as a direct threat to the future of the country.
“Drugs are destroying our children and our future, and we must all stand together to fight this problem in our communities,” he said.
He added that sport offered a positive alternative and a space for young people to channel their energy into activities that build discipline, teamwork and respect.
“Let us use sport to keep our youth busy and focused, so that they are not tempted by bad influences,” he said.
He urged parents, traditional leaders and government structures to work together to protect children from peer pressure and the growing influence of drugs in rural communities.
The Ministry of Youth representative, Sebuyile Nkomo, who led the proceedings, urged young people to shun drugs and to take advantage of Government programmes designed to empower them economically.
“Your future is in your hands, and government has put in place programmes that can help you start projects and earn a living,” she said.
She said her ministry’s office in Umzingwane was open to assisting youths who wanted to establish income-generating projects, and that there were opportunities available through grants, training, and market linkages.
“Come to our office, and we will walk with you until your project is running,” she said.
Nkomo noted that the Second Republic, under President Mnangagwa, had introduced various programmes to promote youth development and economic empowerment, and that young people in rural areas should not be left behind. She was accompanied by a representative from the Ministry of Sport who observed the games and interacted with coaches and team managers.
Tournament facilitator Gift Dube said the event had grown significantly since its inception three years ago, and this year’s edition attracted the largest crowd to date.
“This tournament is part of the build-up to the annual Vice-President Mohadi Tournament that will be hosted in the province later this year, and we are using these district games to identify talent and prepare our teams,” he said.
He attributed the growth to increased community ownership and to support from Zimbabweans living in the diaspora and in South Africa, who had contributed both financial and material resources to make the tournament possible.
Dube said the aim was not only to crown winners but to create a platform where young people could be educated on social challenges while enjoying healthy competition.
“Sport brings people together, and while they are here we also talk about issues like drug abuse and how to build better lives,” he said.
On the field, the football final was keenly contested and was won by Hungry Lions FC from Luvuna Village. The team walked away with a football kit donated by well-wishers.
In netball, the Commando Netball Team from Nonkwane Village emerged victorious and received two netballs. Both finals were played before a packed crowd that sang and danced in support of their teams, and organisers said the level of discipline and sportsmanship displayed reflected the values the tournament sought to promote.
Dube took time to recognise individuals and businesses that contributed towards the success of the event.
Former provincial governor Angeline Masuku also contributed some funds towards efforts to combat drug and substance abuse in the district.
“We must invest in our children and give them alternatives to drugs, and sport is one of those alternatives,” she said.
Organisers said her donation would go towards awareness campaigns and follow-up programs in schools and community centres.
Speaking after the prize-giving, Dube said the tournament demonstrated how sport could be used to bring communities together while creating practical platforms to educate young people on pressing social challenges.
“Together, we are winning the war against drug and substance abuse,” he said, adding that plans were already underway to expand the tournament next year to include more wards and more sporting codes.
Community members who spoke to Chronicle welcomed the initiative saying it gave young people something constructive to do during weekends.
Several parents said they had noticed an increase in idleness among teenagers, and that tournaments such as this one helped to keep them occupied while also passing important life messages.
Teachers from nearby schools who attended said they would encourage learners to participate in future editions and to take up the empowerment opportunities announced by the Ministry of Youth.
The use of sport as a vehicle for social messaging appeared to resonate with the crowd. Between matches, facilitators moved through the stands distributing pamphlets on the dangers of drug abuse and on available support services.
Young people were also invited to ask questions and to share experiences, creating an open dialogue that organisers hope will continue in wards across Umzingwane.
With support from local leadership, government departments and the diaspora, the VP Mohadi tournament is positioning itself as more than just a sporting event.
It is becoming a community development platform that links recreation with education, health and economic empowerment.
Organisers said they were grateful for the turnout and pledged to work with stakeholders to ensure that the momentum is maintained ahead of the provincial finals later this year.
